Mathers joins Hall of Fame class

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the next member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009: accomplished racing director Gary Mathers. Mathers -- who produced 48 championships in road racing, dirt track, Supercross and motocross for Honda and Kawasaki -- will be among the motorcycling heroes honoured at the 2009 induction ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this Dec. 5.

"Motorcycle competition is the most thrilling sport in the world, and few individuals have had as much behind-the-scenes success on the modern racing landscape as Gary Mathers," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "Whether it was identifying talented racers before their time, or helping mold those racers and their teams into champions, Mathers was a master at his craft."

Mathers' keen eye for talent discovered Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey while Mathers was with Kawasaki. Both riders would graduate from his tutelage to become 500cc Grand Prix World Champions. Mathers then moved to American Honda Motor Co., where over the course of 16 years he would produce a total of 48 championships in dirt track, motocross, Supercross and road race, including Honda's satellite teams. With Mathers at the helm, Honda won two championships every year except for one.

"I never thought anything like this would happen," Mathers said. "When I got the call, I couldn't believe it. This is a really great way to top off a career."

Mathers said that he looks back to his second year with Honda in 1986 as one of his most successful.

"We were involved in nine different championships in dirt-track, road racing, motocross, ATV racing, all of it, and we won all of them that year," Mathers said. "The only time I took off that year was the Fourth of July and Christmas day. I wanted to win those championships so bad... I learned a lot of things over the years, but the main thing is, it's the people. The manufacturer gives you the budget, but you still need the best people you can get, and I had them from my administrative assistant on up. You surround yourself with good people, and then you just let them go. That's it."